Speed Gibson

Continuing my generally positive review of the Minneapolis Star Tribune's series about recasting Minneapolis's city government structure, let me quote from their opening Editorial of Dec. 5:

"Two realities have conspired to make Minneapolis' strange form of government untenable. The first and most urgent is the severe, although quiet, fiscal crisis confronting the city. [Property] tax levies would need to triple by 2010 just for the city to continue providing the current level of services and pay off its internal and external debt. This fiscal crisis was caused in part [because in] commission-led Minneapolis, the City Council drives what happens, which means that ward politics drive what happens."

"The second reality is [that] Minneapolis has an absolutely bum reputation with the Legislature, including with members of the city's own delegation. It is regarded as an inefficient, bloated, wasteful, arrogant, hidebound city, dominated by one party and intimidated by the unions that represent city workers. Why care about a city that is such a mess?"

This is breath-taking language from the Star Tribune Editorial Board. They admit that the current structure, so conducive for Democrats, won't work even if "the right people are in charge." But here, no one is in charge.

"Department heads report to individual council members who chair the committee in charge of their department. City government is a bunch of fiefdoms from which it is difficult to wring savings, consolidate services, set proper priorities or communicate Minneapolis' needs and desires to other levels of government. Compounding the problem are the independent, frequently dysfunctional park and library boards."

For once, the Star Tribune's position is well-taken, and their proposed new charter well worth consideration.